Stitch regulating mechanism for sewing machines



Oct. 7; 19 41 L. o. GARWIN ET AL STITCH REGULATING MECHANISM FOR SEWINGMACHINES Filed Sept. ,lZ 1959 8m MM ATTORNEYfi Illl Patented Oct. 7,1941 UNITED srarss PArsNr other s'rrron REGULATING MECHANISM FOR SEWINGMACHINES Louis 0. Garwin, Cleveland Heights, and Charles E. Colegrove,Lakewood, Ohio, assignors to White Sewing Machine Corporation,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 13,1939, Serial No. 294,660

22 Claims. (01. 112-4210) This invention relates to a sewing machine andsaid mechanism and vary the length of stitch.

In order that the operator will know definitely the position to whichsaid member should be moved to obtain a certain length stitch,indicating means may be operatively associated with the control member.

An object of the invention is to provide in operative association withthe control member of the regulatable feed actuating mechanism thatdetermines the length of stitch of a sewing machine, improved and noveladjustable means for limiting the movement of said member atpredetermined points correlated tostitch lengths and for indicating thelength of stitch to be obtained when said member is located at saidpoints.

Another object is to provide means such as specified in the first objectand which is simple in construction, can be readily adjusted, and isaccurate and positive in operation. l

Sewing machines may be provided with feed actuating mechanisms which canhave their operation reversed so that the machine may stitch in eitherthe forward or reverse direction, as desired.

A further object is, therefore, to provide in operative association withthe control member of a sewing machine re'gulatable feed actuatingmechanism of the reversible feed type, improved and novel adjustablemeans for limiting the movemerit of said member at predetermined pointscorrelated to stitch lengths in either the forward or reverse directionand for indicating the length of stitch to be obtained in eitherdirection when said member is located at said points.

A still further object is to provide means, such as set forth in thelast object, and which is so .ing machine is in the" forward stitchingdirection, another object is to provide in a sewing machine re'gulatablefeed actuating mechanism of the reversible feed type, improved means forindicating and controlling the length of stitch in either the forward orreverse direction and including a manually movable member forcontrolling said mechanism and the length and direction of stitch,together with means for normally maintaining said member in, or forreturning it to, a position wherein the stitching movement will be in aforward direction.

Further and additional objects not hereinbefore noted will becomeapparent hereinafter during the following detailed description of anembodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a sewing machinehead, partly in elevation and partly in section, and shows stitchregulating and indicating means thereon embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the sewingmachine head shown in Fig. 1 and is taken substantially on line 2-2 ofFig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational View of that portion of thesewing machine head upon which the stitch regulating and indicatingmeans is mounted and is on a larger scale than Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, certain parts which wouldnot actually appear in the section being indicated by dash lines toillustrate their relationship to the other parts, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scalethrough line 5 5 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The invention will be described herein by way of illustration as appliedto a sewing machine of the reversible feed type, inasmuch as it hasparticular utility in connection with this type of machine, but itshould be understood that the invention, in certain of its aspects, alsocould be usefully applied to a sewing machine of the non-reversible feedtype The feed actuating mechanism is shown herein as located in theupper part of the gooseneck of the sewing machine head, but it will beappreciated that the invention may be applied equally as well to asewing machine wherein said mechanism is located beneath the bed plateof the head.

. The sewing machine head shown inthe drawing comprises the usual bedplate l0 having the hollow gooseneck A, as will be well understood. Themain shaft II that actuates the needle bar and take-up mechanism (notshown) of the machine is located in the horizontal arm of the gooseneckand is provided with a crank portion operatively connected to a mainconnecting assembly indicated generally at I2 and located in thevertical arm of the gooseneck. The main connecting assembly I2 extendsbelow the bed plate II) and is operatively connected to a shaft I3 thatactuates the hook or shuttle mechanism (not shown as the arrangement iswell known).

The main shaft II has fixed thereto a cam I4 for operating the feedactuating mechanism which comprises a rocker plate I5 having an upwardlyextending forked portion I6 that embraces and contacts the cam I4. Therocker plate I5 is rockably connected to the interior of the gooseneckintermediate the ends of the plate as indicated at H. The left hand sideof the rocker plate, as viewed in the drawing, is provided at itsopposite ends with laterally extending lugs I8 which support a pin I9 onwhich is slidably mounted a block. This block is located between theforked upper end of a feed actuating pitman 20 and the block isconnected to said end by a pin extending through it transversely to thepin I9, as will be well understood. The lower end of the pitman 20 ispivotally connected to one end of a link 2I, the opposite end of whichlink is operatively connected to the rock shaft 22 that extends beneaththe bed plate I and, in turn, is operatively connected to the feed bar(not shown).

The construction heretofore described is well known in the art andconsequently need not be set forth in greater detail. It is also wellunderstood that when the point of connection between the rocker plate Iand the upper end of the pitman is shifted along the pin I9 on one sideof the axis of the rocking movement of the plate the length of feedingmovement or the length of stitch in one direction will be varied, whilewhen the movement occurs along the pin on the opposite side of said axisthe feeding movement or stitch length in the opposite or reversedirection is varied. In Fig. 2 the connection-between the plate andpitman is on that side of the axis that results in normal or forwardfeeding or stitching movement.

The shifting of the location of the point of connection between thepitman 20 and the rocker plate I5 to vary the length and direction ofstitch will now be explained.

An angularly shaped link 23 has one of its ends pivotally connected tothe pitman 20 intermediate the ends of the latter as indicated at 24 inFig. 2. The opposite end of the link 23 is pivotally connected, asindicated at 25 in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, to the free end of One arm 25 of anangular lever designated in its entirety by the letter B andconstituting the control member for regulating the feed actuatingmechanism. The other arm 21 of the control member or lever B extendsoutwardly through an elongated vertical opening in the vertical arm ofthe gooseneck A to the front side of the sewing machine head where it isreadily accessible to the operator; the outer end of said arm of thelever being provided with a knob 28 or similar element for theconvenience of the operator in moving the lever.

The control member or lever B is pivoted at the junction of its arms 29and 21 upon a sleeve 29 extending between two spaced internal bosses inthe gooseneck and carried by a supporting bolt 30 having a threaded endportion 3| screwed into a tapped opening in one of the bosses and a head32 located in an opening in the other boss and accessible from theexterior of the gooseneck to facilitate assembly and disassemly.

It will be seen that pivotal movement of the control member or lever Bupon movement of the arm 2'! thereof by the operator acts, through thelink 23, to move the pitman 20 and shift its point of pivotal connectionto the rocker plate I5 along the pin I9, thus changing the amplitude ofthe oscillating movement imparted to the pitman by the rocker plate,with a resultant change in the length of movement of the feedingmechanism and the length of stitch. Of course when the control member orlever B is pivotally moved by a downward movement of the arm 21 thereofpast a given point, the connection between the upper end of the pitman20 and rocker plate I5 is shifted to that side of the axis of the platewhere reverse operation of the feed actuating mechanism takes place.

Although it is often desirable to stitch in the reverse direction, thenormal or usual operation of the machine is in the forward directionand, therefore, it is decidedly advantageous that the feed actuatingmechanism normally is arranged for forward stitching. In order to attainthis end means is provided that serves to constantly urge the arm 2'! ofthe control member or lever B in an upward direction, wherefore when theoperator releases the arm 21 after stitching in the reverse direction itis immediately moved upwardly to bring the point of connection betweenthe pitman and rocker plate to'that side of the axis of the latterwherein forward stitching movement occurs. The means just referred tocomprises a coil spring 33 surrounding the sleeve 29 and having one endportion 39a in engagement with the wall of the gooseneck A and the otherend portion 33b hooked beneath the arm 21 of the control member or leverB. It will be seen that downward movement of the arm 21 tensions thespring 33 and that when downward pressurue is removed from the arm theend portion 33b of the spring 33 will move'the arm upwardly and thusnormally maintain the parts in position for forward stitching movement.

As previously stated, the arm 21 of the control member or lever Bextends through an elongated vertical opening in the vertical arm of thegooseneck A and there is arranged on the front side of this vertical armmeans operatively associated with the lever arm 2'! of the controlmember for limiting movement of said member in opposite directions andat predetermined points and for indicating the length of stitch ineither the forward or reverse direction. This means will now bedescribed.

A vertically elongated mounting plate 3 1 extends over the elongatedopening in the vertical arm of the gooseneck A and is connected to saidvertical arm by screws 35, it being noted that a portion of said openingis not covered by the plate and thus is provided a vertically elongatedslot through which extends the arm 21 of the control member B. Stopmembers for limiting the movement of the arm 21 in opposite directions,and hence the length of stitch in the forward or reverse direction, aremounted on the outer side of the plate 34. These stop members are in theform of sector-like plates 35 and 31 having their small ends fixed torotatable pins 38 mounted in the plate 34 and extending into theinterior of the gooseneck (see Fig. 4).

A spring 39 has its opposite nd portions wound around'the pins 38 andhooked about abutment elements 40 carried by the pins, while the middleportion of the spring 39 is wound about a fixed pin 4| carried by theplate 34 on the inner side thereof. It will be seen that the spring 39acts to normally rotate th upper pin 38 and its attached sector plate 36in a clockwise direction and to normally rotate the lower pin 38 and.its attached sector plate 31 in an anti-clockwise direction. Thisresults in the sector plates having a normal tendency to move towardeach other with their arcuate ends extending across the slot and lyingin the path of movement of the arm 21. It will be seen that if thesector plates are locked against movement at predetermined points theywill act as limiting stops for the arm 27 and thus can arrest movementof said arm at various points correlated to stitch lengths in either theforward or reverse direction.

The sector plates 36 and 3'! are providedwith arcuate slots 42 formedabout the pins 38 as centers and threaded studs 63 carried by the plate3-5 extend through these slots. Locking knobs M are mounted on the studs43 and it will be seen that when said knobs are screwed down tightlyagainst the sector plates 33 and 3'! said sector plates will be clampedbetween the knobs and the plate 34 against movement in either direction.The arcuate slots 42 are of predetermined length to limit the amplitudeof movement of the sector plates in opposite directions in a manner suchthat said plates can be used as limiting stops for the arm 21 of thecontrol member B at any point between minimum and maximum stitch lengthin either th forward or reverse direction.

A cover and indicating plate 45 is mounted over the plate 34 and isattached thereto by screws 45. This plate 45 is provided with openingsthrough which the knobs 44 extend and with a vertically elongated slot4'! through which extends the arm 21 of the control member or lever B.Th plate 45 adjacent to the slot M is-provided with suitable graduationsand numerals to guide the operator in positioning the arm 21 andcorrelated to stitch lengths in either the forward or reverse direction.

a stitch length in the forward direction corresponding to the numeral 2on the cover plate l he loosens th upper knob '44 to unclamp the stopplate 36 and then either moves the arm 21 of the control member orallows the same to move under the action of the spring 33 upwardly untilthe lower edge of the stop plate 3% is in line with the arrow at thenumeral 2, whereupon he again screws the knob 44 downwardly until thestop plate 36 is firmly clamped in this position. In the same way theoperator can obtain various desired stitch lengths in the forwarddirection merely by unlocking the plate 36 and then positioning thelower edge of the plate by movement of the particular pointcorresponding to the stitch length desired. Likewise, the operator canobtain various stitch lengths in the reverse direction by unclamping thestop plate 31 and moving the same by the arm 21 to the desired location,and then clamping said stop plate in posifinished, after which, uponrelease of the down ward pressure on the arm 21, the latter will moveagain into forward stitching position and against the lower edge of thestop plate.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described herein, it will be understood that the invention issusceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a rockable stop means having a portion located in th pathof movement of said member, means operatively associated with andnormally rocking said stop means in a direction to engag said portionwith said member, and means for locking said stop means against rockingmovement to arrest movement of said control member at predeterminedpoints correlated to different stitch lengths.

2. In a sewing machin having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a pivoted stop means having a portion located in the pathof movement of said member, means normally urging said stop means in onedirection, and means for locking said stop means against movement ineither direction to arrest movement of said control member atpredetermined points correlated to different stitch lengths.

3. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a rockable stop means having a portion located in the pathof movement of said member, means operatively associated with andnormally rocking said stop means in a direction to engage said portionwith said member, means limiting the rocking movement of said stop meansin opposite directions and within predetermined limits, and means forlocking said stop means against movement in either direction to arrestmovement of said control member at predetermined points correlated todifferent stitch lengths.

4. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus Varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a pivoted stop means having a portion located in the pathof movement of said member, means normally urging said stop means in onedirection, means limiting the movement of said stop means in oppositedirections and within predetermined limits, and means for locking saidstop means against movement in either direction to arrest movement ofsaid control member at predetermined points correlated to differentstitch lengths.

5. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a pivoted plate having a portion located in the path ofmovement of said member, a spring operatively associated with said plateto urge pivotal movement of the same in one direction, said plate'havingan arcuate slot of predetermined length, a threaded stud extendingthrough said slot, and means screwed on said stud for clamping saidplate against movement in either direction to arrest movement of saidcontrol member at predetermined points correlated to different stitchlengths.

6. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a rockable stop means having a portion located in the pathof movement of said member, means operatively associated with saidmember and normally maintaining the same in engagement with said portionof said stop means, means operatively associated with said stop meansand normally rocking the same toward said member, and means for lockingsaid stop means against rocking movement to arrest movement of saidcontrol member at predetermined points correlated to different stitchlengths.

'7. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a pivoted stop means having a portion located in the pathof movement of said member, means operatively associated with saidmember and normally maintaining the same in engagement with said portionof said stop means, means operatively associated with said stop meansand normally urging the same toward said member, means limiting themovement of said stop means in opposite directions and withinpredetermined limits, and means for locking said stop means againstmovement in either direction to arrest movement of said control memberat predetermined points correlated to different stitch lengths,

8. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the same and thus varying the length of stitch produced bythe machine, a rockable stop means having a portion located in the pathof movement of said member, means operatively associated with andnormally rocking said stop means in a direction to engage said portionwith said member, means cooperating with said control member andprovided with indicia representing different stitch lengths, and meansfor locking said stop means against rocking movement to arrest movementof said control member at different points correlated to differentstitch lengths as indicated by said indicia.

9. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, amovable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forregulating the sameand thus varying the length of stitch produced by themachine, a rockable stop means having a portion located in the path ofmovement of said member, means operatively associated with said controlmember and normally maintaining the same in engage- .ment with saidportion of said stop means, means operatively associated with andnormally rocking said stop means toward said member, means cooperatingwith said control member and provided with indicia representingdifferent stitch lengths, and means for locking said stop means againstrocking movement to arrest movement of said control member at differentpoints corre= lated to stitch lengths as indicated by said indicia.

10. In a sewing machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a movable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and thus regulating thelength and direction of stitch produced by the machine, a pair ofrockable stop means having portions located in the path of movement ofsaid member on opposite sides thereof and rockable independently of eachother, means operatively associated with said control member andnormally maintaining the same in engagement with the said portion of oneof said stop means, and means for locking said stop means againstrocking movement to arrest movement of said control member at differentpoints correlated to stitch lengths in either the forward or the reversedirection.

11. In a sewing machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a movable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength and direction of switch produced by the machine, a pair ofrockable stop means having portions located in the path of movement ofsaid member on opposite sides thereof and rockable independently of eachother, one of said stop means being adapted to arrest movement of saidmember to regulate the length of stitch in the forward direction and theother of said stop means being adapted to arrest movement of said memberto regulate the length of stitch in the reverse direction, meansoperatively associated with said control member and normally maintainingthe same in engagement with said portion of said first named stop means,and means for locking said stop means against rocking movement to arrestmovement of said control member at predetermined points correlated tostitch lengths in either the forward or the reverse direction.

12. In a sewing machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a movable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength of stitch produced by the machine in either the forward or thereverse direction, a pair of pivoted stop means having portions locatedin the path of movement of said member on opposite sides thereof andmovable independently of each other, and means for locking said stopmeans against movement to arrest movement of said control member atpredetermined points correlated to stitch lengths in either the forwardor the reverse directions.

13. In a sewing machine having a reversible and. regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a movable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength of stitch produced by the machine in either the forward orreverse direction, a pair of pivoted stop means having portions locatedin the path of movement of said member on opposite sides thereof, one ofsaid stop means arresting movement of said member to control the lengthof stitch in the forward direction and the other of said stop meansarresting movement of said member to control the length of stitch in thereverse direction, means operatively associated with said control memberand normally maintaining the same in engagement with said portion ofsaid first named stop means, and means for locking both of said stopmeans against movement to arrest movement of said control member atpredetermined points correlated to stitch lengths in either the forwardor the reverse direction.

14. In a sewin machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a movable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength of stitch produced by the machine in either the forward orreverse direction, a pair of pivoted stop means having portions locatedin the path of movement of said member on opposite sides thereof andmovable independently of each other, means operatively associated withsaid stop means and normally urging the same toward said member and eachother, means for locking said stop means against movement to arrestmovement of said member at predetermined points, and means cooperatingwith said member and provided with indicia correlated to stitch lengthsin either the forward or the reverse direction.

15. In a sewing machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a movable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength of stitch produced by the machine in either the forward or thereverse direction, a pair of pivoted stop plates having portions locatedin the path of movement of said member on opposite sides thereof, meansoperatively associated with said stop plates and acting to normally urgethe same toward said member and each other, said stop plates beingprovided with arcuate slots of predetermined length correlated tomaximum and minimum stitch lengths in opposite directions, threadedstuds extending through said slots, a cover mounted over said stopplates and provided with a slot through which said control memberextends and with openings through which said studs are accessible,indicia carried by said cover adjacent said slot and representative ofdifferent stitch lengths in either the forward or reverse direction, andknobs screwed on said studs and extending to the exterior of said coverand acting to clamp said stop plates against movement to arrest movementof said member at different predetermined points correlated to stitchlengths in opposite directions.

16. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, arockable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forcontrolling the sameand for thus regulating the length of stitchproduced by the machine, and a rockable stop means movable about an axistransverse to the axis of movement of said member and having a portionlocated in the path of movement of said member.

17. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, arockable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forcontrolling the same and for thus regulating the length of stitchproduced by the machine, a rockable stop means movable about an axistransverse to the axis of movement of said member and having a portionlocated in the path of movement of said member, and means normallymaintaining said member in engagement with said portion.

18. In a sewing machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a rockable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength of stitch produced by the machine in either the forward orreverse direction, and a pair of rockable stop means independentlymovable about axes transverse to the axis of movement of said member andeach having a portion located in the path of movement of said member.

19. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, arockable control member operatively associated with said mechanism forcontrolling the same and for thus regulating the length of stitchproduced by the machine in either the forward or reverse direction, apair of rockable stop means independently movable about axes transverseto the axis of movement of said member and each having a portion locatedin the path of movement of said member, said portion of one of said stopmeans being located in the zone of movement of said member forregulating the forward stitch length and said portion of theother ofsaid stop means being located in the zone of movement of said member forregulating the reverse stitch length, and means normally maintainingsaid member in engagement with said first mentioned portion.

20. In a sewing machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a rockable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength of stitch produced by the machine in either the forward orreverse direction, a pair of rockable stops independently movable aboutaxes located above and below the axis of said member and each having aportion located in the path of movement of said member, and meansassociated with said member for maintaining the same in engagement withthe said portion of one of said stop means and which is located in thezone of movement of said member controlling the length of stitch in theforward direction.

21. In a sewing machine having a regulatable feed actuating mechanism, arockable controlmember operatively associated with said mechanism forcontrolling the same and for thus regulating the length of stitchproduced by the machine, a rockable stop means having a portion locatedin the path of movement of said member, and. means normally maintainingsaid member in engagement with said portion of said stop means.

22. In a sewing machine having a reversible and regulatable feedactuating mechanism, a movable control member operatively associatedwith said mechanism for controlling the same and for thus regulating thelength of stitch produced by the machine in either the forward orreverse direction, a pair of rockable stop means having portions locatedin the path of movement of said member on opposite sides thereof andmovable independently of each other, means operatively associated withand normally rocking said stop means to move said portions toward saidmember and each other, and means for locking said stop means againstrocking movement to arrest movement of said control member atpredetermined points correlated to stitch lengths in either the forwardor the reverse direction.

LOUIS O. GARWIN. CHARLES E. COLEGROVE.

